By IANS,
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Friday his recent heart surgery was the main reason he was not contesting the Lok Sabha elections.
“The fact is that I had recently undergone surgery. I need to take time to recover to full vigour and that is the prime reason (for not contesting the elections),” Singh told a large group of women journalists in a rare interaction.
Manmohan Singh underwent multiple coronary bypass surgery in January, due to which he had even missed the Jan 26 Republic Day celebrations.
The prime minister also took umbrage at Bharatiya Janta Party leader L. K. Advani taunting him for not contesting the Lok Sabha polls.
“There have been (other) PMs from the Rajya Sabha. Advani has to amend the constitution to ensure that his wishes prevail. Indira Gandhi had been (PM) for one-and-a-half years, H.D. Deve Gowda, I.K. Gujral too (while being members of the Rajya Sabha),” Manmohan Singh pointed out.
Advani has suggested that the constitution be amended to ensure that only a member of the Lok Sabha can become the prime minister.